'AIEA — Getting a jump start on Homecoming weekend festivities, 'Aiea swept past rival Pearl City, 25-17, 26-24, last night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association girls volleyball action.

Na Ali'i, ranked No. 8 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 7-0 in the OIA Red Conference Western Division. The Chargers fell to 5-2, with both losses coming to 'Aiea.

Na Ali'i leads Mililani (6-0) by a half-game in the West standings.

'Aiea swept Pearl City, 25-22, 25-22, on Aug. 27 at the Chargers' home court.

"Any time you can beat a team at (their) home, it gives you confidence," Na Ali'i coach Blythe Yamamoto said. "Pearl City is an awesome team, they have great hitters and play good defense, so we're fortunate to beat them twice."

'Aiea overcame a big deficit to win the first meeting, but last night it was Na Ali'i who got off to a fast start.

Taylor-Marie Fetui's kill broke a 4-4 tie and ignited 'Aiea to a 16-6 run, including an 11-2 spurt that turned a 9-8 lead into a 20-10 advantage. The Chargers suffered through seven hitting errors during the run, sending balls long, wide or into the net.

"Everything that could go wrong, did," Pearl City coach Stephanie Shigemasa said.

The Chargers briefly regrouped to close it to 23-17 after two kills by Tonisha Buford and Sina Mauga's kill off an overpass, but a serving error put Na Ali'i at game point and Fetui sealed it with a solo block.

'Aiea carried its momentum over into the second set, jumping out to a 5-0 lead. But Pearl City answered with a 10-2 run.

Na Ali'i fought back to tie it at 11-11, and the teams traded points until two 'Aiea errors and Keani Passi's kill put the Chargers up, 22-19. Two Pearl City errors helped Na Ali'i eventually tie it again at 23-23.

Nicole Boyer's kill then put the Chargers at game point, but another hitting error tied it up again and Tiara Fetui's kill put 'Aiea at match point, 25-24.

Ka'ala Leopoldo then served an ace to end it.

"Pearl City came at us with a lot of energy, so we just had to match that energy," Yamamoto said. "We have a veteran group, and they stayed calm out there. They knew that we were never out of it."

Na Ali'i took second place in the McKinley tournament but a shortened preseason limited the amount of nonleague action before the OIA season began Aug. 18.

"We played in only one tournament and had a few scrimmages, so is still almost the beginning of the season for us," Yamamoto said. "We're just starting to hit our stride."

Pearl City plays at Mililani on Sept. 17; 'Aiea plays at Mililani on Sept. 22.

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com